About the Book

In this collection of 48 reprinted and completely original articles, Tammy Anderson gives her fellow instructors of undergraduate deviance a refreshing way to energize and revitalize their courses. [36 are reprints; 12 are original to this text/anthology]

Second, her pairing of "classic" and "contemporary" viewpoints about deviance and social control not only "connects" important literatures of the past to today’s (student) readers, her "connections framework" also helps all of us see social life and social processes more clearly when alternative meanings are accorded to similar forms of deviant behavior. We also learn how to appreciate and interact with those who see things differently from ourselves. This may better equip us to reach common goals in an increasingly diverse and ever-changing world.

Third, a major teaching goal of Anderson’s anthology is to sharpen students’ critical thinking skills by forcing them to look at how a deviant behavior, trait or condition, can be viewed from opposing or alternative perspectives. By learning to see deviance from multiple perspectives, students will better understand their own and other’s behavior and experiences and be able to anticipate future trends. Balancing multiple perspectives may also assist students in their practical work in social service, criminal justice and other agencies and institutions that deal with populations considered "deviant" in one way or another.

Reviews

"I applaud the editor for her attention to detail in putting together these important topics. This book provides studies that are both theoretically relevant and empirically interesting. The editor focused attention on classical research and then outlined the evolution of deviance studies. Students of sociology, criminology, and social psychology will greatly benefit from her work."

-Rebecca Trammell, Criminal Justice and Criminology, Metropolitan State University of Denver

"Understanding Deviance brings the study of deviance up to date by revealing the links between the field’s classic works and contemporary developments in sociology (including biomedicalization, edgework, the carnival of the grotesque, risk society, queer theory, and critical race theory) and criminology (including general strain theory, lifecourse criminology, and mass incarceration). Both instructors and students should appreciate this unique approach to the study of deviance."

-Joel Best, Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware

"Understanding Deviance: Connecting Classical and Contemporary Perspectives offers a stimulating yet serious exploration of deviance. The pairings of classical essays with cutting-edge research on contemporary, provocative issues exemplify the role of context in defining deviance and ways in which perspectives change or remain the same, while the Connections essays extend the theoretical and practical applications to facilitate higher-level thinking and critical analysis."

-Sarah M. Smith, Sociology and Criminal Justice, Elmhurst College

"Anderson has assembled an outstanding collection of readings that, though written from a range of perspectives, examines many of the central and critical issues in the sociology of deviance. In addition to providing the reader with a solid grounding in classic works across several theoretical traditions, Understanding Deviance connects these core foundational works to cutting-edge scholarship in sociology, criminology, and penology. Although there is no shortage of deviance texts on the market, Understanding Deviance deserves the careful consideration of those seeking an imaginatively curated collection of essays spanning multiple disciplines and schools of thought."

-Randolph Myers, Sociology and Criminal Justice, Old Dominion University

"This book puts classical and contemporary theories of deviance right in the hands of students, which is difficult to do in an introductory-level text. Anderson does a remarkable job of surveying the theoretical landscape of deviance while at the same time giving interesting, relevant examples. I will adopt."

-Angela Henderson, Sociology, University of Northern Colorado

"Anderson’s book, Understanding Deviance, propels our understanding of deviance into the 21st century by comparing classical and contemporary theories. I am confident this book will generate and sustain student interest given the diversity of relevant topics and populations it covers. The novel interpretation and application of theories will push students and scholars alike to rethink their previously held conceptualizations."

About the Author

Tammy L. Anderson is a Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. Her recent books Rave Culture: The Alteration and Decline of a Philadelphia Music Scene (Temple University Press), Sex, Drugs, and Death (Routledge), and Neither Villain nor Victim: Empowerment and Agency among Women Substance Abusers (Rutgers University Press), along with her many peer review papers on substance abuse, crime, and music scenes, showcase her range of scholarship in the area of deviance, culture, and social control.

About the Series

This innovative series is for all readers interested in books that provide frameworks for making sense of the complexities of contemporary social life. Each of the books in this series uses a sociological lens to provide current critical and analytical perspectives on significant social issues, patterns and trends. The series consists of books that integrate the best ideas in sociological thought with an aim toward public education and engagement. These books are designed for use in the classroom as well as for scholars and socially curious general readers.